CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 50: A VISIT TO THE DOORSTEP

Zheng Xianghong didn’t say a word, but she was inwardly grumbling, uncertain of how her son-in-law managed to get promoted. Even though she was just a rural woman, she knew that promotions in the city weren’t that easy, especially since her son-in-law was so young and had only been working for a short period, yet he had already been promoted twice.

When she thought about the marriage arrangement, Zheng Xianghong worried that her daughter and son-in-law might have resorted to unscrupulous means, noting that her younger daughter had changed and no longer resembled her old self since getting married.

Zheng Xianghong also had another issue she hadn’t brought up: Gao Yongfang had said that Teacher Wang had taken a liking to Gao Jiazhi, suggesting they date without mentioning him moving in as a live-in son-in-law. Zheng Xianghong wasn’t pleased; aside from the fact that the woman was three years older than her son and already divorced, she also wanted her son to move into her family. Being a mother, her heart naturally sided with her own son, and Zheng Xianghong was unwilling to let Gao Jiazhi suffer any inconveniences, even if Teacher Wang’s family had good conditions.

Xia Xiao, upon remembering that she had sold two pheasants to Feng Zhiguang, suspected that Gao Yongfang’s husband might have used those two pheasants to curry favor with his superiors. After all, meat and grain were expensive at that time, and two pheasants were a rare commodity.

However, individuals like Feng Zhiguang were quite common in later generations, and such a person, capable of ingratiating himself with leaders and being a technical backbone, had a high chance of promotion.

When Zheng Xianghong returned home from work, she saw Gao Yongfang with a young woman in her early twenties and instantly understood what was going on. Zheng Xianghong felt furious and wished she could send the woman away, but considering her a guest from afar, she wasn’t about to turn someone away on their first visit.

But Zheng Xianghong pinched her daughter fiercely, causing Gao Yongfang considerable pain. However, thinking about the potential benefits if the deputy factory director’s daughter took a fancy to her brother and she could successfully play matchmaker, Gao Yongfang didn’t complain and even showed a placating smile to Zheng Xianghong.

"Why did you bring her here?" Zheng Xianghong was infuriated.

"Mom, didn’t I tell you? That day Jiazhi came over to my place when Teacher Wang, who lives nearby, happened to pass by and saw him. She’s interested in marrying Jiazhi, and doesn’t require him to move in as a live-in son-in-law, just to date first. Isn’t that great? Look at her temperament, figure, and family wealth. She’s definitely a good match for Jiazhi."

"But she’s been divorced and is three years older than your brother. It’s not like he can’t find a wife. We can’t sell your brother for money. What is wrong with both of your hearts? Zhiguang got promoted, didn’t he? Why are you still thinking of selling your brother?" Zheng Xianghong truly felt helpless with her younger daughter.

"Mom, you’re being too harsh. Sell my brother? I’m thinking of Jiazhi’s best interest. I’ve always been closest to him since we were young. How could I forget Jiazhi when such a good opportunity arises?" Gao Yongfang put on an act as if she was looking out for Gao Jiazhi’s best interests.

Zheng Xianghong said, "Even so, you shouldn’t have brought her home. Grandma was furious last time; you want my life to pay for your actions? Did I give birth to you just to settle debts?"

"Mom, stop it. She’s already here at our house. Go pour a glass of water, that’s common courtesy. Let Jiazhi have a look later; after all, whether things work out or not is up to the two of them." Gao Yongfang only told Zheng Xianghong about her husband’s promotion but omitted to mention that it was only acting.

There’s a big difference between an acting leader and an interim leader, so naturally, Gao Yongfang wanted to seize the opportunity. She was well aware of her natal family’s preferences, but compared to her husband’s interests, these were barely a consideration for Gao Yongfang.

Before marriage, Gao Yongfang naturally prioritized her natal family, but after getting married, she valued her own small family even more. After all, her husband was the one she would spend her life with. Gao Yongfang didn’t think she was in the wrong and felt aggrieved by her natal family’s complaints, believing they weren’t understanding toward her.

Even her mother, Zheng Xianghong, tended to favor the husband’s family. Gao Yongfang, a village girl who had married into the city, had relied on her beauty to be chosen by her husband. But since she had given birth to a daughter and there was no sign of another child, she had to face her mother-in-law’s moods. With her own family unable to support her, Gao Yongfang had no one to blame. However, when her family could lend her a hand, their reluctance to help only added to her resentment.

If she could successfully arrange a match between Teacher Wang and Jiazhi this time, her husband would truly be promoted, and her status in her in-law’s family would also rise. This was the main reason Gao Yongfang was so eager.

So at this moment, Gao Yongfang was crying to Zheng Xianghong about how her mother-in-law was dissatisfied with her for not having borne a son, always scolded her, and no matter how hard she worked like an ox or a horse at home, her mother-in-law was never pleased, and so on.

Zheng Xianghong felt a deep sorrow upon hearing her youngest daughter’s complaints, yet she could not agree to Gao Yongfang’s request.

Wang Xiumei sat in the Gao family’s living room, surveying their environment. She nodded in satisfaction; the Gao family’s home was tidy and clean, reflecting the diligence of the woman of the house and unlike the dirt and disorder common in some rural households.

Originally, upon hearing about Gao Yongfang’s family from her parents, Wang Xiumei was reluctant. She had just divorced not long ago and did not want to remarry so quickly, especially to someone from the countryside.

However, now that she was her parents’ only daughter, and they wanted her to find a son-in-law, Wang Xiumei wasn’t opposed to the idea, though she didn’t want to settle for just anyone. Passing by the Feng family’s house one day, she happened to see a handsome young man looking for Gao Yongfang and took note of him.

Afterward, having heard the siblings quarreling outside the Feng family’s house, Wang Xiumei, who was originally disinterested, took notice of Gao Jiazhi and her interest was piqued upon inquiry.

She had just returned from the school and bumped into Gao Yongfang, who said she would take her home, so Wang Xiumei followed along.

Soon, Wang Xiumei saw Zheng Xianghong emerge from the kitchen with water and quickly stood up to take it.

"Thank you, Auntie."

"Please sit down," Zheng Xianghong said, not knowing how to speak to Wang Xiumei at the moment.

If it weren’t for the relationship of her daughter and son-in-law, Zheng Xianghong would have been at ease if a woman showed interest in her son, but given the previous talk of her son marrying into another family and her offspring taking advantage of her son’s benefits, Zheng Xianghong felt a deep repulsion towards Wang Xiumei from the bottom of her heart.

"Mom, where’s Jiazhi?" Gao Yongfang asked.

If it weren’t for her mom being with her all along, she would have suspected her mom had told Jiazhi not to come home; how else could it be so late, and apart from her mom, her dad and two brothers were all absent.

"How would I know? He hasn’t come back from work yet," Zheng Xianghong said.

"Mom, have you eaten?" Gao Yongfang asked.

Zheng Xianghong nodded, "I just ate."

"Teacher Wang and I haven’t eaten yet," Gao Yongfang said.

Zheng Xianghong uttered an ’oh’ and said, "Then you should head back quickly. Although there’s a big dining hall in the Production Team now, you are not members of the Production Team, and it wouldn’t be right for us to keep you for dinner."

"Mom," Gao Yongfang looked discontentedly at Zheng Xianghong, feeling that her mother had made her lose face; they weren’t so desperate they couldn’t find food to eat, "Why don’t you accompany Teacher Wang and me around the Production Team? It’s her first visit, and she isn’t familiar with the Guangming Production Team yet."